Chapter Seventy: The All-Stars Take the Stage in Full Splendor

“When I heard the words, ‘I hope he can win the championship,’ they sounded somewhat desolate in Lin Fei’s ears. Many people were saying that he was becoming more and more like the young Allen Iverson, and Lin Fei wasn’t sure whether to feel happy or sorrowful. Undeniably, these comparisons were meant as praise—Iverson’s speed and scoring prowess were rare in this world. Yet, Iverson’s style was individualistic, often out of sync with his team’s offense, and so, his career’s ending was tinged with sadness. After moving from the Nuggets, to the Pistons, and then back to the 76ers, in the end, not a single team was willing to take in the former superstar. Was Lin Fei’s style of play leading him toward the same fate?

He didn’t dwell on it further, as the All-Star game was tomorrow. Tonight, after the Rising Stars Challenge, Lin Fei only made a symbolic appearance—after all, the coach knew he’d be playing in the main event, so his minutes in the rookie game were merely a gesture. Lin Fei understood, performing a few signature moves on the court as a token, and also to give his younger teammates a chance to shine.

Tonight’s All-Star Game was the true centerpiece of the weekend, a gathering of stars both old and new. Legends like Bird, Magic, Olajuwon, and Jordan were all there to celebrate the occasion, and the active players, of course, wouldn’t miss it for the world. The commentator was the ever-boisterous Charles Barkley, whose commentary was always lively and humorous, and who never hesitated to joke about any player.

When introducing the other athletes, Barkley was in his element. But when it was Lin Fei’s turn, Barkley quipped, ‘From a distance, he looks like a little wooden post. If he stood next to Yao Ming, I think he’d make a perfect walking stick for Yao.’ The whole arena burst into laughter, highlighting just how slim Lin Fei’s physique was.

‘Looking at the rosters, I favor the East,’ Barkley continued. ‘Both teams have comparable offense, but the East is defensively tougher. Look at their Defensive Player of the Year awards—they have four, while the West only has Kobe. And with Yao Ming plagued by injuries, his matchup with Howard will be a disadvantage. Even though it’s an All-Star Game, I’d love to see a real playoff-level contest.’

During pregame practice, nearly every player tried to dunk, seeking the thrill of dominating the rim. Lin Fei, however, focused on shooting threes—dunking was not his specialty, but three-point shooting was his forte. Each time someone dunked, the crowd erupted in cheers.

Lin Fei was exhilarated. Never had he imagined he’d be playing alongside so many star players, let alone with Yao Ming. He had always admired Yao’s sincere, honest demeanor. Though Yao was aging, Lin Fei’s own rapid rise had allowed him to catch up and play a few games with this legend.

The game began. Howard for the East and Yao for the West stepped up for the tip-off. Although Yao was taller, Howard’s leap was nearly a head higher, and he claimed the ball.

Howard quickly passed to Rose, whom Lin Fei guarded. Rose drove with a rapid change of direction. Lin Fei could barely keep up, but Rose powered through to the basket. Defense in the All-Star Game is typically lax, and the paint was open. Though Lin Fei stuck close, Rose powered up, and as Lin Fei tried to strip the ball, Rose executed a midair switch and finished a layup, drawing a gasp from the crowd—it was the legendary Windy City Rose, the youngest MVP in history.

While the fans were still cheering for Rose, the West inbounded swiftly. Lin Fei passed to Kobe, who drove coast-to-coast for a layup, matching Rose’s play with equal resolve.

With a showcase of individual brilliance expected, LeBron was bound to put on a performance. As a forward, James grabbed the ball, his massive frame rumbling down the court like a tank. No one even tried to stop him—this was the All-Star Game. He reached the three-point line, gathered the ball, took three steps, and with a leap from just beyond the free-throw line, delivered a thunderous dunk that shook the backboard. Hanging for a moment on the rim—a technical foul in a regular game—but in the All-Star it was all in good fun. This was the so-called aesthetics of power, perfected by LeBron.

The East had their high-flying stars in James and Howard, but the West had their own. The coach, beaming, told the players, ‘Get the ball to Griffin and let him dunk!’—clearly wanting to compete with the East’s high flyers. In the current league, only Griffin, James, and Howard could truly bring dunking to its brutal, spectacular peak. Yet Griffin, young and explosively athletic, was the reigning dunk king, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Sure enough, Lin Fei brought the ball up and passed to Griffin, who attacked the rim with force, not so much playing a game as participating in a dunk contest. Griffin took off, switched the ball from left to right hand in midair, his head level with the rim as if he might kiss it, and ‘boom!’—he hammered the ball down, making the basket shake violently.

Griffin landed, glanced at James, and both burst into laughter as the crowd roared with applause.

‘Oh! What a dunk show! Now only Dwight remains among the league’s top dunkers. Let’s see what he does next!’

As if reading the fans’ minds, the coach drew up the next play for Howard. He took the ball on the baseline, faced Yao, spun past him—something he’d rarely manage in a regular game—drove close to the basket, dribbled forward, turned his back, leapt, spun, and slammed home a reverse dunk, almost kissing the rim. Howard even pulled off a flashy move first made famous by ‘UFO’ Carter, plunging his whole arm into the rim. Truly ‘Superman’ Howard—his flair made him a fan favorite.

With Howard showing off, the West’s top center, Yao, took the spotlight. Receiving the ball under the basket, Yao spun past Howard. Howard recovered, but Yao executed a sharp stop and spin for a dunk—a move reminiscent of his early days in the league, the signature Shanghai Shuffle.

‘Who would have thought, after all these years, Yao’s footwork remains so nimble!’ Barkley exclaimed. Barkley had vivid memories of Yao: when Yao entered the league, few believed in him. Barkley famously said Yao was a bust and bet that if Yao ever scored 19 points in a game, he’d kiss a donkey’s backside. In that very game, Yao went 9-for-9 and scored 20, a story that has become a courtside legend. Now, seeing Yao’s footwork, Barkley couldn’t help but marvel.

Lin Fei went to high-five Yao, reflecting on how the two Chinese players on the court were so vastly different in stature.

At this point, the most restless spirit on the floor was surely ‘The Flash’ Dwyane Wade, a superstar with both speed and strength, who would never let others steal all the glory. Wade received the ball and performed his signature coast-to-coast play—catch, dribble, drive, and dunk. His game was a joy to watch, defined by speed, but his leaping ability was also formidable, and his dunks carried an undeniable swagger. Even Kobe’s defense was rendered useless.

Next came Durant, who added his own graceful dunk. Unlike the muscle-bound power dunkers, Durant’s style was fluid and elegant. On the East, Carmelo Anthony was the first to attempt a jump shot instead of a dunk, sinking it smoothly and flashing his trademark ‘Melo smile.’

Now, Lin Fei was the only player on the court yet to score. Both teams had maintained 100% shooting, mostly through dunks. The fans were eager—how would Lin Fei choose to attack?

Lin Fei took the ball, facing Rose’s defense, and stuck to his usual: a change of direction, a spin, an acceleration—blowing past Rose. But in the paint stood LeBron. In past matchups between the Warriors and the Heat, no one on the Heat could stop Lin Fei. Now, in the All-Star Game, LeBron wasn’t going to miss a chance to test himself. Lin Fei spun, accelerating with the move—a maneuver nearly impossible, as spinning throws off your balance and accelerating compounds the difficulty. But confidence begets courage, and Lin Fei pulled it off. Before him stood LeBron, much bigger and stronger—Lin Fei’s thigh was barely as thick as LeBron’s arm. The crowd held its breath. Lin Fei spun again, then stopped on a dime. The audience marveled at his extraordinary balance. Following the flow of his body, Lin Fei spun a second time, leaving LeBron behind, and, boldly, with a half-hook, half-floater, banked the ball in off the glass—a truly stylish shot. Two spins followed by a hook—it was almost like ballet. The perfect phrase from Chinese culture to describe it would be ‘a celestial maiden scattering flowers’: light, graceful steps and an elegant, unhurried release—a move that left the crowd utterly enchanted.